Legislation proposing deregulation of landline phone services emerged from the Kentucky House for the first time Tuesday. The controversial measure – generally referred to as the AT&T bill – would also release carriers from the obligation to require basic services to customers in urban areas. During floor debate on the bill, Rep. Rick Rand listed reasons why freeing up more money for AT&T upgrades would benefit Kentucky.
"It'll bring investment to our communities. It'll help our communities to attract employees. It'll help home-based businesses, and... I believe it'll spur economic growth and help our bottom line," he argued.
While proponents characterize the bill as forward-thinking, many lawmakers expressed concerns about how loosening regulations might affect poorer customers in more far-flung parts of the Commonwealth.
"I'm worried that what we're doing here is we're leaving behind that section of the state, that population that our regulations were intended to protect," Pike County Democratic Rep. Chris Harris said.
One new compromise in the bill would allow rural customers who drop landline service a 60-day window to return to their old plans if they are not satisfied.
The measure passed 72-25.
